Throat-lamp and tongue-depressor



1 J. E. FITZGERALD. :[HROAT LAMP AND TONGUE DEPRESSOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921."

ATTORNEY UNITED STATESPATENT O FI E,

,aon v'nnwam) FITZGERALD,;OF nnwyonx, 1c I I rrrnoa'r- AMrIANDmoneun-nnrnnsson.

, To all aroma may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWARD FITZ- GERALD a -citizen-Of the UnitedStates residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of Newl ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Throat-Lampand Tongue-Depressor, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable other skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to throat lamps. and more particularly toelectric throat lamps having means for depressing the tongue. i

It is an object of the invention to provide an electric throat lamp andtongue depressor which will be simple and inexpensive in construction,and efiicient in use.

It is another object to provide a throat lamp and tongue depressor whichmay be folded into a compact form and which comprises few parts. easilyand quickly sterilized.

It is a further object to provide a throat lamp'having automatic meansfor closing the circuit of the lamp upon operative pressure on thetongue depressor.

, Other objects will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with thefollowing detailed description.

In the drawings, which illustrate a prcferred embodiment of theinvention:

Figure l is a side View of the lamp;

Fig. .2 is a side View of the lamp viewed .from another angle with thetongue depressor folded for carrying; and

Fig. 3 is a viewof the lamp end of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the lamp comprises theordinary shell covering 1, in the present instance being cylindrical inform, containing a battery. The two ends of this casing are closed byscrew caps 2, 3; the latter removably carrying the lamp l. The circuitof the lamp is adapted to be closed, as will be described, throughswitch contacts including a depressible element 5.

The tongue depressor in the present instance comprises a bent wire 6,which is sufficiently heavy to resist bending. This wire is attached tothe lamp proper by straps or bands 7., 7 encircling the lamp, thesestraps being substantially circular in form, but havingtwo half eyelets8, 8 pressed out- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 3,11, 11,1921;

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial N0. 367,226. v

wardly from their circumferences to inclose the respective forks of thetongue depressor.

One hand 7 encircles the lamp was to i11 elude within its circumferencethe switch button 5, for a purpose which will be ex By thisconstruction- 7 u the tongue depressor is attached to the cas-,

plained hereinafter.

pressor having been forced inwardly withinthe encircling-bands, thusmaterially shortening the instrument for the purpose of carrying thesame in the pocket or instrument ba 1 In operation, the element 6 isextended to the position shown in Fig. 1. The instrument is then placedin the mouth andthe tip 9 of the element 6 is pressed firmly against thetongue in the usual manner. The element 6 then acts as a lever, pivotingadjacent the lower front end of the casing, and forcesthe band 7 againstthe button 5, depressing the latter and closing the circuit of the lampand affording a sufiicient light for the examination of the month. Inthe construction shown, a spring clip 10 is included between the band 7and the button 5 for the purpose of yieldingly separating-the. twoelements. before operative pressure on the tongue depressor. A set screw11 may also be provided in the band 7 for controlling the delicacy ofthe apparatus.

The apparatus is not limited tov thelshape of the. element asillustrated. It is also evident that other similar fastening devicesmight be employed. Furthermore, the shape of the bands 4, might bealtered to. accom modate the ordinary flat wooden tongue depressor usedin institutional work where a single use is required. With the presentconstruction the tongue depressor may be easily and quickly attached andremoved. and the apparatus is thus especially suited for use of thiskind. The device as described is comice 1,5 sor to close. the circuit ofthe lamp.

claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is l. In anelectricthroat lamp,fthe combination with-a handle containing a battery7 and a bulb,-,of a tonguedepressor carried by said handle and adaptedto project beyond the same in substantially parallel relationshipthereto, and means controlled by 3 said depressor to close the circuitthrough 1 the battery and bulb. 2. In an' electric throat lamp, incombination, a handle containing a battery and a bulb, a tonguedepressor adjustable along said handle and removable therefrom, and

automatic means controlled by said depres- In an electric throat lamp,in combination, a handle containing a battery and a bulb, a tonguedepressor removably carried by said handle and adapted-to be extendedlengthwise of said handle from an inoperative to an operative position,and means to close the circuit of the lamp upon pressure on the free endof said depressor when extended. g Y

4. In an. electric throat lamp, in combina- H tion, a handle containingabattery, a bulb,

a. reflector, a tongue depressor attachedto the handle by encirclingbands and adapted to slide lengthwise of the handle within said bands,one of said bands adapted to close the circuit of the lamp uponoperativepressure on the tongue depressor.

. 5. In an electric throat lamp, in combination, a handlecontaining abattery, a bulb and a reflector,-'a tongue depressor held by said handlein substantially parallel relationship thereto and adapted to pivotslightly at a point adjacent an end ofsaid handle, and means to closethe circuit of lamp upon such pivotal motion.

6. In an electric throat lamp, in combination, a handle containing abattery, a-bulb, a reflector, a tongue depressor lying adjacent saidhandle and adapted to slide lengthwise thereof a plurality of rings orstraps encircling said handle and said depressor,

and conforming closely to the outline of said members, one of said ringsbeing adapted to close the circuit of the lamp upon pressure on theextended end of the tongue depressing element. 7 y r 7. In a device ofthe character indicated, n combination, an attachment for an electrioflashlight comprising atongueilepressing element and bandsto bind saidelement along the body of said flashlight, one of said bands beingadapted to effect closure of the lamp circuit "upon operative pressureon the extended end of said tongue depressingele ment. r f

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, an attachmentfor electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressing element andmeans to bind said element along the body of said flashlight, saidbinding means being adapted to effect closure of the lamp circuit uponoperative pressure on the extended end of said tongue depressingelement.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, an attachmentfor electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressing member, andcommon means for fastening said member to said flashlight and foreffecting closure ofthe lamp circuit upon operative pressure on saidtongue depressing member.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, anattachment for electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressingmember, means for fasteningv saidmember to said flashlight adapted toallow extension of said member from an inoperative posi-' In testlmonywhereof I aflix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD FITZGERALD, M. D.

Witnesses EDNA PAINE DUVAL, MARY A. CASHIN.

